Self-cleaning eaves gutter



Nov. 17, 1964 H. M. HERMAN 3,157,002

SELF-CLEANING EAVE'S GUTTER Filed Feb. 25, 1962 H Il lI Vix.

INVE TOR.

United States Patent O 3,157,002 SELF-CLEANNG EAVES GUTTER Harold M. Herman, 6604 N. Whipple St., Chicago, Ill. Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 174,955 Claims. (Cl. Sil-5) The present invention relates to an eaves gutter which is provided with a tlexible lining adapted to be inflated periodically to effect expulsion of debris from the gutter through operation of control means remote therefrom.

One object of the invention is to provide a self-cleaning gutter embodying an inflatable liner operable by fluid pressure to inilate and push out debris and the like, whereby a cleaning operation can be effected by remote control means including a source of lluid pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcleaning gutter of the type above-mentioned which is efficient and dependable in operation and which is simple and inexpensive to install and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a gutter supported in the usual position adjacent the eaves of a roof, the gutter being partly broken away to illustrate an inflatable liner incorporated therein in accordance with the invention, the liner and certain related components being shown in section and the liner being shown in deflated or collapsed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 showing the flexible liner in inflated condition;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the structure of FIGURES l and 2;

FGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, certain interior components being shown in elevation for purposes of clarity; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the flexible liner in iniiated condition.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown at 20 the eaves of a building roof, a gutter 22 being supported adjacent the eaves by a pair of brackets 24 and 26 which are anchored to the eaves as shown at 27 in FIGURES 4 and 5. The gutter 22 extends along the length of the eaves Ztl in the usual manner and is conventional in configuration, being generally U-shaped in cross section. The outer edge of the gutter comprises a rolled or substantially tubular portion 3d which is relatively rigid and provides a smooth surface.

Intermediate the ends of the gutter there is provided a downspout nipple 32 which is secured to the bottom of the gutter so as to extend downwardly therefrom. The nipple 32 communicates with the interior of the gutter 22 in the usual manner. A conventional downspout or drain pipe 34 has its upper end telescoped over the nipple 32 and extends downwardly therefrom so as to be adapted to drain any water which is collected in the gutter.

In accordance with the present invention, a flexible inilatable lining 36 is positioned in the gutter 22 and secured to the bottom thereof by glue or other suitable means. The liner 36 is preferably generally tubular when inllated, having closed ends 37 and 3S and being substantially lluid tight, although it may take other forms, and in some instances it may be preferable that it overhang the edge of the gutter, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The inflatable liner 36 extends longitudinally along the gutter 22, preferably sustantially along the entire length thereof, and when in its deflated or collapsed condition it is adapted to lie with its upper surface adjacent the lower portion thereof to form, in effect, a double layer lining for the gutter. As shown in FIGURE 4, the ilexi- ICC ble lining is adapted to conform approximatelyl to the arcuate configuration of the gutter when in its deflated condition.

When the member 36 is in a collapsed condition, the gutter 22 will function substantially in the usual manner to collect rain water and the like and permit the same to drain through the downspout 34. The bottom portion of the liner 36, indicated at 40, is apertured to accommodate a tubular bushing 42 which is telescoped within theV downspout nipple 32 so as to extend downwardly for a portion of the length of the latter. The upper end of the bushing 42 is provided with axially spaced parallel ilanges 44 and 45 which seat against the respective inner and outer surfaces of the bottom portion 4h of the liner so as to effect a seal.

In a similar manner, the upper end of a drain tube 47 is received in an aperture in an upper portion 48 of the liner 36, axially spaced flanges 49 and 50 being provided to effect a seal between the Itube 47 and the upper portion of the liner. The drain tube 47 is mounted in the bushing 42 so as to be adapted to slide vertically therein, and the tube is of suflicient length so that even when the liner 36 is fully inflated so as to raise the tube 47 to the position shown in FlGURES 2 and 5, the lower end ot said tube will extend into the bushing 42.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the inflatable member 36 is in detlated condition, rain water and the like collected in the gutter 22 will ow into the tube 47 and into the downspout 34. It will further be noted that while the tube 47 passes through the upper and lower layers 48 and itl of the lining 36, the latter remains a substantially sealed enclosure so as to be inilatable by iluid pressure means. In addition to serving as a drainpipe, the tube 47 tends to maintain the flexible liner 36 in proper alignment with the gutter 22 during inflation and deflation of the liner.

A wire screen guard 51 is mounted at the upper end of the drain tube 47 to prevent large particles `of debris from entering and clogging the tube. FIGURE 5 also shows a pressure relief valve 52 provided in the upper portion 48 of the liner 36 for the purpose of relieving excess pressure in the latter. The end of the valve 52 is aimed toward the screen guard 51 whereby when lluid under pressure is blown out through the valve it is directed at the guard and will thus serve to blow away any debris which may be entangled therein.

A return spring 54 is provided to assist in returning the liner 36 to the collapsed position shown in FIGURE 4 upon deflation thereof. The spring 54 is a tension spring having its upper end secured to a cross pin S5 carried by the drain tube 47, and its lower end anchored at a cross pin 56 carried by the downspout 34. In this manner, the drain tube 47 is urged downwardly by the spring S4 to bias the lining 36 towards its collapsed position. The lower end of the tube 47 is provided with inclined guide surfaces SS and a pair of opposed vertical slots 59 for cooperation with `the lower cross pin 56 to effect alignment and seating of the tube when in its lowermost position.

A iluid inlet-outlet member 62 is associated with the lower layer 4? of the flexible liner 36 so as to permit fluid under pressure to flow into and out of the member 36 for inilation and deflation thereof. For example, air, gas or water under pressure may be pumped through member 62 into the liner by pumping means (not shown) to inflate said liner, and the fluid may also he withdrawn therefrom, for example, by creating a suction in the supply line so as to collapse the member 36. The pumping means for supplying pressure to .the inflatable member and for creating a suction to collapse the same may be located at any desired position remote from the gutter 3 e 22. If desired, an ordinary garden hose from a water tap may be utilized to operate the unit.

The inflatable member 36 described hereinabove is suited not only to the removal of leaves, dirt, twigs and other debris from an eaves gutter, but is also adapted to removeice and snow therefrom. Hot air or hot water may be utilized to inate the liexible member 36 to aid in the removal of ice and snowfrom the gutter. A resistance wire or heating coil (not shown) may be molded in the iiexible liner' and connected to a suitable sourceV of electric current so as to assist in removal of ice and snow. Such a heating coil may assume a helical form when embedded in the tiexible member 36, or may take other suitable forms. In addition, the member 36 may be formed so as to overhang the rolled edge portion 3d of the gutter 22 to facilitate removal of icieles and 1 the like formed along the outside of the gutter.

This invention can of course be embodied in diterent speciiic forms, and the present description and illustration thereof should, therefore, be regarded as disclosing only an illustrative embodiment of the invention, from which no unnecessary limitations should be implied.

I claim:

l. A self-cleaning eaves gutter comprising, in combination, a gutter adapted to be supported adjacent the eaves of a roof, a flexible lining mounted in said gutter so as to extend substantially along the lengthv thereof, said lining comprising a sealed enclosure adapted to be inated to expel debris from said gutter, the size of said lining relative to said gutter being such that said lining when inflated substantially fills said gutter and extends thereabove, fluid inlet and outlet means associated with said lining to permit ination and deation thereof, and a drainage tube which extends transversely through upper and lower layers of said lining to permit drainage therethrough when said lining is in its collapsed condition, said tube being sealed With respect to said lining to permit inflation of the latter.

2. A self-cleaning eaves gutter comprising, in combination, a gutter adapted to be supported adjacent the eaves of a roof, a flexible lining positioned in said gutter so as to extend substantially along the length thereof,

said lining comprising a sealed enclosure adapted to be intlated to expel debris from said gutter, the size of said lining relative to said gutter being such that said lining when inflated substantially fills said gutter and extends thereabove, fluid inlet and outlet means associated with said lining to permit inflation and deation thereof, a drainage tube extending transversely through upper and lower layers of said lining to permit drainage therethrough when said lining is in its collapsed condition, said tube being sealed with respect to said lining to permit ination ofthe latter, and a tension spring having a lower end which is iixedly anchored and an upper end which is secured to said tube to yieldingly urge the same downwardly and thereby bias said lining toward its collapsed position.

`3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said drainage tube is mounted in a bushing for vertical sliding movement therein whereby said tube will function to maintain the lining in proper alignment with the gutter during inflation and deation of the lining.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein a guard is mounted at the upper end of said drainage tube to prevent entry therein of large particles of debris, and wherein a pressure relief valve is mounted in the upper portion of References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,519,393 Y Noyes Aug. 22, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,054 nary Nov. 21, 1955 

1. A SELF-CLEANING EAVES GUTTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A GUTTER ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED ADJACENT THE EAVES OF A ROOF, A FLEXIBLE LINING MOUNTED IN SAID GUTTER SO AS TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID LINING COMPRISING A SEALED ENCLOSURE ADAPTED TO BE INFLATED TO EXPEL DEBRIS FROM SAID GUTTER, THE SIZE OF SAID LINING WHEN INFLATED SUBSTANTIALLY FILLS SAID GUTTER AND LINING WHEN INFLATED SUBSTANTIALLY FILLS SAID GUTTER AND EXTENDS THEREABOVE, FLUID INLET AND OUTLET MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LINING TO PERMIT INFLATION AND DEFLATION THEREOF, AND A DRAINAGE TUBE WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY THROUGH UPPER AND LOWER LAYERS OF SAID LINING TO PERMIT DRAINAGE THERETHROUGH WHEN SAID LINING IS IN ITS COLLAPSED CONDITION, SAID TUBE BEING SEALED WITH RESPECT TO SAID LINING TO PERMIT INFLATION OF THE LATTER. 